Myosmith

Well heck, I was just gearing up for winter riding when I had to go and have a heart attack

Good news is that it was caught very early and according to my physicians I had "no significant damage". I got one stent and the other vessels in my heart looked good. So I'll be back in action soon, but have to take several medications for at least a year.

I've already heard through the grapevine that there have been comments about me losing all that weight and becoming an avid cyclist "not doing me any good" but in reality, it may have saved my life. There is a huge history of heart and vascular disease in the males on both sides of my family and several members have been crippled or died at an early age from heart attacks and related vascular problems. Having adopted the cycling lifestyle may well have made the difference between my very mild heart attack and having a severe or fatal one. More good news is that the angiogram and ultrasound exams both showed my heart and its vasculature to be in otherwise pretty good shape.

My heart attack had virtually no symptoms. I had a vague, very mild, not-quite-right feeling and an unusual mild spastic belching. My wife urged me to get it checked and because of my family history I got an EKG and they drew blood for labs. The EKG was clean but the labs showed that something was going on. Thanks to my PA for the nice catch. A couple of hours later I was getting my stent at a larger facility 45 miles away. Fantastic care across the board.

The reason I posted this was to remind my fellow cyclists not to ignore their bodies even when the signals are vague and mild.

CommuteCommando

I've had two and same story. I had been really heavy and I am sure a life of McD's and donuts, in addition to genetic factors plugged me up. I was actually on my bike both times it happened, and the doctors told me, especially after the second one where I had shown over 60lb weight loss since the first, that the cycling saved me from severe damage.

TrojanHorse

I swear, people are like crabs. You put one crab alone in a basket and you have to put a lid on it to keep the crab from crawling out.

You put a bunch of crabs in the basket and you no longer need a lid because the other crabs will pull down any crab trying to escape.

A pox on negative people!

WebFootFreak

Glad to hear everything is okay!

bs63366

Glad to hear all is well. Hopefully you will be back in the saddle soon.

bbeasley

Sorry to hear this, but glad you had as good an outcome as you did. I had one in 2001 and it hasn't held me back a bit. I echo what you wrote about listening to your body no matter how minor.

goldfinch

Thanks for the caution, Myo. Hope you are back riding soon (though the weather isn't so nice for it).

I have similar history of heart disease, with mother dying at age 39 of a second heart attack and a father dying at 63 after several heart attacks, his first in his 40s. I am 59 and no heart attacks yet. But, I have a problem with the vague feelings of something being wrong that some people seem to get with heart problems, especially women. Vague feelings of something not right hit me all too often in my life. I used to have panic attacks and they are kind of a residual left from that. I am afraid I will never know for sure when something is really wrong but if you have unpleasant feelings every month or so you can't keep running to the doctor every time.

Take care.

Beachgrad05

Queue PJ and his soapbox.

JUST KIDDING as PJ and now Myosmith are absolutely correct. If something is OFF...GO TO DOCTOR!

Glad you caught it when you did!

Bill Kapaun

Had my semi annual check up a couple days ago and my doctor is so thrilled about my cycling, he doesn't even give me any crap about my smoking.

Null66

Glad to hear you can through with no significant damage.

Wish everyone was as wise (as well as being able) to go to Dr. when you felt unwell. I doubt I would be as wise.

phread59

BTSTDT. I had a fairly serious one. Lost about 40% function. With exercize I got back all but maybe 6-7%. I feel fine and can still ride. I do get tired easily though. And you will be on meds for more than a year. So just be prepared. You as well as I were lucky. I'm glad you're fine. Keep on keepin on.

Mark Shuman

Myosmith

According to the cardiology PA, I will be on a beta blocker, Plavix and aspirin for a year. After that, I may be OK to just be on the aspirin. Of course, they want me on a statin forever UNLESS I can get my triglycerides, HDL and LDL to within the new guidelines. Well, my goal is to get my fitness and nutrition to the point that I'm at least well within the old guidelines (that everyone was perfectly happy with until a couple months ago) and as close as possible, if not actually within, the new guidelines. I'm not against statins by any means, but they aren't chicken soup. If I can control a medical issue through behavior change, I much prefer that to artificially lowering my cholesterol pharmacologically. Well, we'll see about that one a year from now.